National Air and Space Museum Will Open Renovated West End in October

View inside the nearly finished “Early Flight” exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. "Early Flight" will be on view when the museum's west end reopens on Oct. 14, 2022. Photo Credit: Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
Aircorps Art Dec 2019


PRESS RELEASE

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will reopen half of its flagship building on the National Mall Friday, Oct. 14. Eight new and renovated exhibitions, the planetarium, museum store and Mars Café will open on the building’s west end. The museum has been undergoing a seven-year renovation that began in 2018 and includes redesigning all 23 exhibitions and presentation spaces, complete refacing of the exterior cladding, replacement of outdated mechanical systems, and other repairs and improvements.

Northrop T 38 Talon and the Extra 260 hanging at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum
View from the ground floor of the Northrop T-38 Talon and the Extra 260 hanging at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Both will be on display when the museum reopens Oct. 14, 2022. Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

Only half of the building will be opening, and great interest in visiting is expected. Free timed-entry passes will be required to ensure visitors have an enjoyable experience. The passes will be available on the museum’s website on Sept. 14.

This is one of the most exciting times in the National Air and Space Museum’s history,” said Chris Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the museum. “When we open the first reimagined galleries, we hope all visitors are inspired by artifacts on display for the first time, favorite icons of aerospace presented in new ways, and diverse storytelling.

Exhibitions Opening Oct. 14:

The renovated museum will feature hundreds of new artifacts to the building such as Jackie Cochran’s T-38, the plane Cochrane flew when she became the first woman to break the sound barrier; the Sharp DR 90 Nemesis air racer, the most successful aircraft in air racing history flown by pilot and co-designer, Jon Sharp; and Sean Tucker’s custom-built aerobatic biplane, the Aviation Specialties Unlimited Challenger III. The full-sized X-Wing Starfighter that appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, on loan from Lucasfilm, will also be displayed for the first time and located outside of the planetarium.

Moving an artifact as priceless as the 1903 Wright Flyer
National Air and Space staff move the wing section of the 1903 Wright Flyer out of gallery 209 the former Wright Brothers gallery and down to the first floor in the Space Race gallery on a gantry crane and into the west wing to its new home in gallery 107, “Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age,” in the Smithsonian Air and at Space Museum in Washington, DC, February 24, 2022. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston) [NASM2022-01461] This photo is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use: si.edu/termsofuse.

Visitors will see favorite artifacts presented in new settings. The Apollo 11 command module Columbia will be housed in a custom-designed, climate-controlled case as the centerpiece of the “Destination Moon” exhibition alongside Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit. The 1903 Wright Flyer will be displayed in a dynamic new environment that better tells the story of the invention of flying and its implication on world history.

The exhibition plan will use creative and dynamic techniques to engage visitors while they are at the museum and after they leave. Instead of simply presenting information to visitors, the exhibitions will provide ways of engaging people through hands-on experiences. For example, in the “Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery,” visitors will tour the solar system and learn what it would be like to walk on another world through an immersive, interactive experience.

Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia
he Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia displayed in the new “Destination Moon” exhibition, opening Oct. 14, 2022. Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

The planetarium will offer significant upgrades to its technological capabilities and include new screencast abilities that will allow connection with planetariums around the country and vastly expand the museum’s reach.

Visit the museum’s website for more information on the renovation. Details on free timed-entry passes will be provided in the coming weeks.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport. The Udvar-Hazy Center is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free, but there is a $15 fee for parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

Smithsonian
Artist Rendition of the future Wright Brothers Gallery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Moreno-Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

Array
About Moreno Aguiari 3380 Articles
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

Be the first to comment

Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*